Symphony No. 3 (Rautavaara)

Finnish composer Einojuhani Rautavaara wrote his Symphony No. 3 (Op. 20) in 1959–60. Despite much of the material being derived from a twelve-tone row (after studying in Switzerland under Wladimir Vogel), the work remains tonal in character throughout. In fact, the romantic gestures of the symphony, the majestic use of brass (including Wagner Tubas), as well as the use of German tempo markings, owes much to the symphonies of Anton Bruckner, and the symphony has been termed by critics as neo-Brucknerian in style.

Movements

A typical performance usually lasts around 30 minutes. The work is in four movements:

1. Langsam, breit, ruhig
2. Langsam, doch nicht schleppend
3. Sehr schnell
4. Bewegt

Analysis

Instrumentation

The symphony is scored for the following orchestra:

Woodwinds:

2 flutes

2 oboes

2 bassoons

Brass:

4 Wagner tubas (2 Tenor Tuba in B, 2 Bass Tuba in F)

2 trumpets in B

1 tuba

Percussion

timpani

Strings:

violins I, II

violas

cellos

double basses

Premiere

Symphony No. 3 was premiered in Helsinki on 10 April 1962 by the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by Paavo Berglund.

Recordings

References